Note: Readings and assignments are due the day listed.
Class
Topics
Assignments Due
#1 – 1/26
Introductions
Syllabus Review
Introduction to wiki
What do YOU already know about public education?
Discussion: Who is teaching in public schools? What are the characteristics of a “good” school?
#2 – 2/2
Introduction to Savage Inequalities
Sharing and peer editing of Expertise Statements
Discussion: Challenges affecting teachers.
Introduction to annotation
Discussion: Who is teaching in public schools? What are the characteristics of a “good” school?
Developing a policy issues database
Read:
FAE Chapter 1: Teaching in a Changing World
Do:
Prepare an Expertise Statement: Describe something you know well and how you learned it (1+ pages; print out and bring to class)
Watch “What is a wiki”
#3 – 2/9
“Early History” group activity
Instruction/rubric for Context Statement
Group brainstorm questions about schools, communities, districts
Discussion: Savage Inequalities
Addressing sociocultural issues in the classroom: then and now
Context Statement assignments
Read:
FAE Chapter 2: The Early History of Education in a Changing World
Savage Inequalities Chapter 1
Do:
Revise your Personal Expertise Statement based on editor feedback and post to wiki.
Explore RI schools online. Consider schools/districts for you Context Statement
#4 – 2/16
We will meet in the Curriculum Materials Library for this class.
Library Workshop:
How do we use evidence to describe a school or community?
How do we distinguish credible and appropriate sources?
How do we add statistics to our Context Statements?
Gathering/sharing evidence about our schools
Read:
FAE Chapter 3: Historical Perspectives of Education
Savage Inequalities Chapter 2
Do:
Decide upon a school to research for your Context Statement. Search the district webpage and be prepared to share an overview of the city/town in which your school is located.
Write a brief (1/2-1 page) reflection on FAE Chapter 3. What did you find most surprising, interesting, or relevant to today's educational contexts?
#5 – 2/23
We will meet in the Curriculum Materials Library for this class.
Continued preparation of Context Statements
Gathering/sharing evidence about our schools
Read:
FAE Chapter 4: Philosophy: Reflections on the Essence of Education
Do:
Write a brief (1/2-1 page) reflection on FAE Chapter 4. What did you find most surprising, interesting, or relevant to today's educational contexts?
Continue to work on Context Statement
#6 – 3/2
What are some of the educational policy issues that have developed from competing philosophical orientations?
Activity: What is my theoretical orientation?
Discussion: Savage Inequalities
Discussion: Implications of divergent philosophies in classroom practice
Read:
FAE Chapter 5: Building an Educational Philosophy in a Changing World
Savage Inequalities Chapter 3
Do:
Context Statement (due 3/9)
Choose two or three educational philosophers/schools of thought that appeal to you or match your own feelings about schooling. Explain why. Bring to class.
*
#7 – 3/9
Context Statements due before class. Post to wiki.
What is the role of school in society and how do particular interest groups perceive this differently?
Teacher involvement in politics
Peer review/editing Context Statements
Read:
FAE Chapter 6: Place of Schools in Society
Do:
· Context Statement
#8 – 3/16
Final version of Context Statements due. Post to wiki. First draft of Context Statement Due. Bring laptop to class for peer editing.
Multicultural perspectives in education: what are some of the policy issues related to cultural pressures in American education
Residual effects of historical American educatinoal decisions, practices, and policies
Savage Inequalities discussion
·
Read:
FAE Chapter 7: Diversity in School and Society
Savage Inequalities Chapter 5
Do:
Peer edit at least one Context Statement (early in the week)
#9 – 3/30
·Final version of Context Statements due. Post to wiki.
What are some of the policy issues surrounding family involvement in education?
Developing a policy position on one of the many issues that have arisen in class
Group dynamics: N,S, E, W
Tentative group policy assignments
Final Savage Inequalities discussion
Read:
FAE Chapter 8: Students and Their Families
Savage Inequalities Chapter 6
Do:
Prepare for final SI Discussion
#10 – 4/6
We will meet in the Curriculum Materials Library forthe last hourof this class.
Developing a group research question
Determining reliability of sources
Online research
Read:
·FAE Chapters 9 and 10: Organizing and Paying for Education/Legal Perspectives on Education
Do:
Read a variety of news sources and bring two articles presenting differing viewpoints on a current issue on a financial/organizational/legal issue related to education
.
#11 – 4/13
We will meet in the Curriculum Materials Library forthe last hour of this class.
·Continued research and development of policy bibliographies
Read:
FAE Chapter 11: Standards, Assessment, and Accountability
Do:
Consider whether this chapter informs your policy issue and make adjustments as necessary
Annotated bibliographies due Friday, April 15
#12 –4/20
Educational issues presentations
Course Evaluations/Reflection
Read:
FAE Chapter 12: Designing Programs for Learners: Curriculum and Instruction
Do:
Prepare for presentations
Write a brief synopsis of your group's lesson and reference curricular/instructional strategies (with page numbers) from this chapter.
#13 – 4/27
Educational Issues Presentations
Read:
FAE Chapter 13: Becoming a High-Quality Teacher in a Changing World
Do: Synthesize what you learned from this chapter and the course in general to describe the term "high-quality teacher." Use specific details. Post to wiki.
This schedule is posted for planning purposes. Assignments/due dates/activities are subject to revision by instructor to best meet developing class strengths and needs.
Class Schedule and Assignments
Note: Readings and assignments are due the day listed.
- FAE Chapter 1: Teaching in a Changing World
Do:- FAE Chapter 2: The Early History of Education in a Changing World
- Savage Inequalities Chapter 1
Do:Library Workshop:
- FAE Chapter 3: Historical Perspectives of Education
- Savage Inequalities Chapter 2
Do:Do:
- What are some of the educational policy issues that have developed from competing philosophical orientations?
- Activity: What is my theoretical orientation?
- Discussion: Savage Inequalities
Discussion: Implications of divergent philosophies in classroom practice- FAE Chapter 5: Building an Educational Philosophy in a Changing World
- Savage Inequalities Chapter 3
Do:- Context Statement (due 3/9)
- Choose two or three educational philosophers/schools of thought that appeal to you or match your own feelings about schooling. Explain why. Bring to class.
*Do:
Final version of Context Statements due. Post to wiki. First draft of Context Statement Due. Bring laptop to class for peer editing.
- Multicultural perspectives in education: what are some of the policy issues related to cultural pressures in American education
- Residual effects of historical American educatinoal decisions, practices, and policies
- Savage Inequalities discussion
·Do:
Peer edit at least one Context Statement (early in the week)
·Final version of Context Statements due. Post to wiki.
What are some of the policy issues surrounding family involvement in education?Do:
Prepare for final SI Discussion
Do:
.
- FAE Chapter 11: Standards, Assessment, and Accountability
Do:Annotated bibliographies due Friday, April 15
Course Evaluations/Reflection
Do:
Do: Synthesize what you learned from this chapter and the course in general to describe the term "high-quality teacher." Use specific details. Post to wiki.